The list covers all of Iran's satellites that have been sent towards orbit using an indigenous launching rocket.

A mid-2008 launch. claimed by Iran to have been a success, may have been a failed attempt to orbit Omid or might genuinely have been a launch vehicle final test before the actual Omid launch. The weight of evidence is towards the former so the launch probably represents Iran's first attempt at orbit.

Other than the first launch, appearances of failures in this list are based mainly on rumour so they should be treated as possible, rather than probable, events.

Failed to reach orbit

Safir 1Semnan Launch Site, Iran

2008 Aug 17, 18:30

Omid?

Described by Iran as a dummy payload not destined for orbit but may have been the first attempt to launch Omid, a comms test satellite. Destroyed when launch vehicle reportedly exploded soon after lift-off.

2009-004

Safir 1Semnan Launch Site, Iran

2009 Feb 2, 18:34

Omid (Hope)2009-004A33506

Re-entered 2009 Apr 25

Demonstration satellite reportedly including 'store and forward' payload to test up and down comms links. Success reported two days after launch. Mass 27.270 kg and powered by onboard batteries which became exhausted around Feb 20. Iran stated that it ceased to operate at the time it re-entered.

epoch (UTC)

s-m axis( km )

ecc

perigee( km )

apogee( km )

period( min )

incl ( ° )

ω ( ° )

2009 Feb 2, 21:06

6690

0.0104

243

382

90.77

55.52

152

2011-025

Safir 1Semnan Launch Site, Iran

2011 Jun 15, 09:15

Rasad 1 (Observation 1)2011-025A37675

Re-entered 2011 Jul 6

15.3 kg microsatellite reportedly for Earth imaging with 200m resolution but imagery results not published. Equipped with gravity-gradient stabilisation boom. The launch time is an estimate ±1 minute. Indications were initially that Rasad might be launched as a dual payload with the larger, 50 kg, Fajr 1 satellite. Iran indicated testing delays with Fajr 1 so the dual launch may have been taken off the schedule.

epoch (UTC)

s-m axis( km )

ecc

perigee( km )

apogee( km )

period( min )

incl ( ° )

ω ( ° )

2011 Jun 15, 19:14

6645

0.0035

244

291

89.85

55.68

81

2012-005

Safir 1-BSemnan Launch Site, Iran

2012 Feb 3, 00:04

Navid (Navid-e-Elm va Sana't)2012-005A38075

Re-entered 2012 Apr 1

Imaging satellite with 400m resolution. The mass is 50kg. Intended orbit announced in advance as 250 x 375 km, 55° inclination. Early reports said the design may include an onboard thruster to circularise the orbit at 375 km but this now seems unlikely. The full name means 'Promise of Science and Industry'. February 8, Navid reportedly returned its first image.Launch time is an estimate but should be within ±1 minute, re-entered naturally 2012 Apr 1 19:09 UTC ±2 min.

epoch (UTC)

s-m axis( km )

ecc

perigee( km )

apogee( km )

period( min )

incl ( ° )

ω ( ° )

2012 Feb 3, 19:34

6703

0.0074

276

374

91.03

56.02

133

Failed to reach orbit

Safir 1-BSemnan Launch Site, Iran

2012 May 23

Fajr (failure?)

Science satellite to have been used for testing space systems and imaging from orbit. It was based on Iran's earlier satellite Omid but with solar cells and had a design life of eighteen months. Orbit expected to be 350 x 400 km, 55° inclination. Delayed from 2010 by technical issues. Lost in an incident involving the Safir rocket. Precise date and actual time of the launch attempt are unknown but was probably in the second half of the day. Unconfirmed by Iran - failure evidence is circumstantial.

Failed to reach orbit

Safir 1-BSemnan Launch Site, Iran

2012 Oct 1

Fajr (failure?)

Science satellite to have been used for testing space systems and imaging from orbit. Delayed from 2010 by technical issues including a probable launch failure of the first version 2012 May. Lost in an incident involving the Safir rocket. Precise date and actual time of the launch attempt are unknown but was probably in the second half of the day. Unconfirmed by Iran - failure evidence is circumstantial.

Failed to reach orbit

Safir-1BSemnan Launch Site, Iran

2014 Mar 20

Tadbir

Imaging satellite - improved version of the earlier Navid (2012-005A/38075). Failure was reported via Iran-based web discussion forums but is unconfirmedby Iran. Reportedly the upper stage shut down 3s early. As a result, the satellite would have re-entered (probably above the Southern Ocean). Probably aimed at 300 km, 55°-56° inclination.

2015-006

Safir 1-BSemnan Launch Site, Iran

2015 Feb 2, 08:50

Fajr2015-006A40387

Re-entered 2015 Feb 26

Reportedly an electronic intelligence gathering (ELINT) satellite. Described by Iran as having an orbit adjustment thruster but there is no evidence of it being used. Project was subject to significant delays and possible launch failures - 2012 May 23 and 2012 Oct 1.